Rotary toothbrush

ABSTRACT

A plurality of linearly extending brushes are rotatably mounted at one end in a housing. Each brush operatively abuts a corresponding one of the inner surfaces of half the front teeth of a jaw and the corresponding side teeth, the outer surfaces of half the front teeth and the corresponding side teeth and the bite surfaces of half the front teeth and the corresponding side teeth. A motive device in the housing is coupled to the brushes for rotating the brushes about their axes in predetermined directions.

United States Patent [191 Caliendo Dec. 16, 1975 ROTARY TOOTHBRUSH 22 Filed: Mar. 4, 1974 211 Appl. No.: 447,575

[52] US. Cl. 15/23 3,440.680 4/1969 Werding l5/24x Primary ExaminerEdward L. Roberts Attorney, Agent, or FirmDaniel Jay Tick [57] ABSTRACT A plurality of linearly extending brushes are rotatably mounted at one end in a housing. Each brush opera-.

tively abuts a corresponding one of the inner surfaces of half the front teeth of a jaw and the corresponding side teeth, the outer surfaces of half the front teeth and the corresponding side teeth and the bite surfaces of half the front teeth and the corresponding side teeth. A motive device in the housing is coupled to the brushes for rotating the brushes about their axes in predetermined directions.

4 Claims, 9 Drawing Figures [51] Int. Cl. A46B 13/02 [58] Field of Search 15/23, 24, 25, 167

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,854,626 4/1932 Riggall, Jr 15/23 2,628,377 2/1953 Cockriel l5/23 2,758,326 8/1956 Keely et al... 15/23 2,917,759 12/1959 Siampaus 15/25 2,947,013 8/1960 Silverman 15/167 R 2 ll 2 l I f l i u U 4/ US. Patent Dec. 16, 1975 Sheet10f2 3,925,841

US. Patent Dec. 16, 1975 Sheet 2 of 2 FIG 6 z/ 45 42 I 4/ FIG 8 II II!!! I llllllll/ll ROTARY TOOTHBRUSH BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a rotary toothbrush. More particularly, the invention relates to a rotary toothbrush for brushing all the teeth of a jaw.

The principal object of the invention is to provide a rotary toothbrush which efficiently, effectively and reliably brushes all the teeth of the upper or lower jaw simultaneously.

An object of t the invention is to provide a rotary toothbrush of simple structure, which is inexpensive in manufacture. Another object of the invention is to provide a rotary toothbrush which is simple, easy and convenient to operate.

Sitll another object of the invention is to provide a rotary toothbrush which is attractive and interesting to children so that they are encouraged to use it and good dental hygiene is practiced.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a rotary toothbrush which brushes the teeth outward from the root area to the bite surface.

Another object of the invention is to provide a rotary toothbrush in which brushes operate on all the surfaces of the teeth simultaneously, so that the use of dental floss is minimized, since the pressure of the brushes can force food plaque from the innermost interproximal spaces and contact areas of theteeth.

Still another object of the invention isto provide a rotary toothbrush having brushes to which children may apply a fluoride compound directly thereby providing an economic fluoride treatment without the expense of special trays. This is thus additional motivation for children to care for their teeth simply and economically.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION:

y In accordance with the invention, a rotary toothbrush for brushing all the teeth of a jaw, the teeth being in a substantially U-shaped. pattern with the front teeth at the curvilinear portion of the pattern and the side teeth at the substantially linear portions of the pattern and each tooth having an inner'surface on the inside of the U-shaped pattern, an outer surface on the outside of the U-shaped pattern and a bite surface facing the bite surfaces of the teeth of the other jaw, comprises a housing. A plurality of substantially linearly extending brushes are rotatably mounted at one end in the hous ing in a manner whereby each brush operatively abuts a corresponding one of the inner surfaces of substantially half the front teeth and the corresponding side teeth, the outer surfaces of substantially ,half the front teeth and the corresponding side teeth and'the bite surfaces of substantially half the front teeth and the corresponding side teeth. Motive means in the housing is coupled to the brushes for rotating the brushes about their axes in predetermined directions.

In one embodiment of the invention, the motive means comprises an electric motor, a source ofelectrical energy coupled to the motor for rotating the motor and gear means coupling the motor to each ,of the brushes. i

In another embodiment of the invention, the 'motive' means comprises gear means coupled to each of the brushes and amanually rotated shaft affixed to the gear means and extending from the housing.

abuts the'outer surfaces of the half of the front teeth and the outer surfaces of the corresponding side teeth. The motive means contrarotates the first and second brushes. A third of the brushes abuts the bite surfaces of half the front teeth of a jaw and the bite surfaces of the corresponding side teeth.

The first brush comprises a substantially linear rod having a first plurality of substantially radially extending bristles in, planes substantially perpendicular to the rod in the area of the side teeth, a second plurality of substantially extending bristles in planes inclined at angles opening away from the first plurality of bristles in the area of the inner surfaces of the front teeth and a third plurality of substantially radially extending bristles in planes inclined at angles opening toward the first and second pluralities of bristles in the area of the outer surfaces of the front teeth. The bristles of each of the second and third pluralities of bristles substantially abut each other in a plane substantially perpendicular to the rod and the bristles of each of the second and third pluralities of bristles increase in length substantially in proportion with the distance from the plane. The bristles of .ach of the second and third pluralities of bristles form substantially conical configurations.

The second brush comprises a substantially linear rod having a first plurality of substantially radially extending bristles in planes substantially perpendicular to the rod in the area of the side teeth, the bristles of the first plurality of bristles having substantially equal lengths, and a second plurality of substantially radially extending bristles inplanes substantially perpendicular to the rod, the bristles of the second plurality of bristles increasing in length substantially in proportion with the distance from first bristles of bristlles in a flared configuration The third brushcomprises a substantially linear rod having a first plurality of substantially radially extending bristles in aplanes substantially perpendicular to the rod in the areaof the side teeth, the bristles of the first plurality of bristles having substantially equal lengths, and a second plurality of substantially radially extending bristles in planes substantially perpendicular to the rod, the bristles of the second plurality of bristles increasing in length substantially in proportion with the distance fromsthe'first plurality of bristles in a flared configuration. R

A fourth of the brushes identical to the first brush abuts the inner surfaces of the other half of the front teeth of the jaw and the inner surfaces of the corresponding side teeth. A fifth of the brushes identical to the second brush abuts the outer surfaces of the other half of the front teeth and the outer surfaces of the corresponding side teeth. A sixth of the brushes identical to the third brush abuts the bite surfaces of the other half of the front teeth of the jaw and the bite surfaces of the corresponding side teeth.

" BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS:

In order that the invention may be readily carried into effect, itwill nowbe described with reference to the accompanying drawing, wherein:

FIG. 6 is a side view of the first brush of the rotary toothbrush of the invention; 7

FIG. 7 is aside view of the second brush of the rotary toothbrush of the invention;

FIG. 8 is a view, taken along the lines VIII-VIII, of FIG. 3; and

FIG. 9 is' a circuit diagram of the embodiment of FIG. 5.

In the FIGS., the same components are identified by the same reference numerals.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION:

The rotary toothbrush of the invention brushes all the teeth of a persons upper or lower jaw simultaneously. The rotary toothbrush of the invention may thus be used to brush all the teeth of one jaw and may then be inverted to brush all the teeth of the other jaw.

The teeth of the upper or lower jaw are, as shown in FIG. 8, in a substantially U-shaped pattern with front teeth 1, 2, 3, 4, and so on, at the curvilinear portion of the pattern and side teeth 5, 6, 7, and so on, and 8, 9, l0, and so on, at the substantially linear portions 11 and 12, respectively, of the pattern.

Each tooth has an inner surface on theinside of the U-shaped pattern, an outer surface on the outside of the U-shaped pattern and a bite surface facing the bite surfaces of the teeth of the other jaw. Thus, the tooth 10, forexample, has an inner surface 13, an outer'surface 14, and a bite surface 15. 1

The rotary toothbrush of the invention comprises a housing 16 (FIG. 1) or 16' (FIG. Aplurality of substantially linearly extending brushes are rotatably mounted at one end in the housing 16 or 16 in. a manner whereby each brush operatively abuts a corresponding one of the inner surfaces of substantially half the front teeth such as, for example, the teeth 1, 2 and 3, and the corresponding side teeth 5, 6, 7, and so on, the outer surfaces of substantially. half the front teeth such as, for example, the teeth 1, 2 and 3, and the cor.- responding side teeth 5, 6, 7, and so on, and the bite surfaces of substantially half the front teeth such as, for example, the teeth 1, 2 and 3, and the corresponding side teeth 5, 6, 7, and so on.

A motive device in the housing 16 or 16' is coupled to the brushes for rotating the brushes about their axes in predetermined directions, indicated by arrows l7, 18, 19, 20, 21 and 22 in FIG. 2. The motive device'of the embodiment of FIG. 1 comprises gears 23, 24, 25, 26, 27 and 28 each coupled to a corresponding one of the brushes, as shown in FIG. 2. The gears 23 and 25 are drivingly coupled to a drive gear 29 (FIGS. 1, 2, 4, 5, 8 and 9). The gears 23 to 28 rotate in a singlesubstantial plane and the drive gear 29 rotates in a plane substantially perpendicular to the plane of rotation of the gears 23 to 28, as shown in FIGS. 1, 2, 5 and 8. The drive gear 29 is substantially a double worm gear, having a disc-like configuration with two spaced opposite substantially parallel surfaces. Each surface has a suband extends from the housing 16. The embodiment of FIG.1 is thus manually powered.

The motive device of the embodiment of FIG. 5, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 9, comprises an electric motor 33 drivingly coupled to the drive gear 29 in any suitable manner such as, for example, via a coupling gear 34 (FIG. 5). A source of electrical energy such as, for example, a battery 35 (FIGS. 5 and 9) is coupled to the motor 33 for rotating the motor. The battery 35 may comprise any suitable type of battery such as, for example, a storage cell, a rechargeable battery, or the like. The energization of the motor 33 is controlled by a switch 36 which is electrically connected in a circuit electrically connecting the motor to the battery 35.

In order to interest children in brushing their teeth, by making the rotary toothbrush of the invention interesting and attractive to children, a music box 37 of any suitable type (FIG. 4) is coupled to the drive gear 29. The music box 37 produces a tune simultaneously with the rotation of the brushes via the rotation of the drive gear 29. Thus, in the embodiment of FIG. 1, when the shaft 32 is rotated about its axis, thereby rotating the drive gear 29 about its axis, the music box 37 is oper- Med and plays a tune. 'In the embodiment of FIG. 5, when the user turns the switch 36 ON, the motor 33 rotates the drive gear 29 about its axis and the music box 37 is operated and plays a tune.

A first of the brushes 38 (FIGS. 1, 3, 5, 6 and 8) abuts theinner surfaces of half the front teeth 1, 2 and 3 of the upper or lower jaw and the inner surfaces of the corresponding side teeth 5, 6, 7, and so on (FIG. 8). A second of the brushes 39 (FIGS. 3 and 8) abuts the outer surfaces of the half of the front teeth 1, 2 and 3 and the outer surfaces of the corresponding side teeth 5, 6, 7, and so on (FIG. 8). A third of the brushes 40 (FIGS. 1, 3 and 5) abut the bite surfaces of the half of the front teeth 1, 2 and 3 and the bite surfaces of the corresponding side teeth 5, 6, 7, and so on (FIG. 3).

The first brush 38 comprises a substantially linear rod 41 (FIGS. 1, 6 and 8) having a first plurality of substantially radially extending bristles 42 (FIG. 6) in a plane substantially perpendicular to the rod in the area of the side teeth 5, 6, 7, and the like. A second plurality of substantially radially extending bristles 43 (FIG. 6) are provided in planes inclined at angles opening away fror'n'the first plurality of bristles 42 in the area of the inner surfaces of the front teeth 1, 2 an 3. A third plurality of substantially radially extending bristles 44 (FIG. 6') are provided in planes inclined at angles opening toward the first and second pluralities of bristles 42 and 43 in the area of the outer surfaces of the front teeth 1, 2 and 3. The bristles of each of the second and thirdjpluralities of bristles 43 and 44 substantially abut each other in a plane 45 (FIG. 6) substantially perpendicular to the rod 41. The bristles of the second and third pluralities of bristles 43 and 44 increase in length substantially in proportion with the distance from the plane 45. The bristles of each of the second and third pluralities of bristles 43 and 44 form substantially conical configurations.

The second brush 39 c'omprisesa substantially linear rod-46. (FIGS. 7 and 8) havinga first plurality of substantially radially extending bristles 47 (FIG; 7) in planes substantially perpendicular tothe rod in the area of the side teeth5, 6, 7, and so on. The bristles of the first plurality of bristles .47 have substantially equal lengths (FIG. 7). A second plurality of substantially radially extending bristles 48 (FIG, 7) are provided in planes substantially perpendicular to the rod 46. The bristles of the second plurality of bristles 48 increase in length substantially. in proportion with the distance from the first plurality of bristles 47 in a flared configuration.

The third brush 40 comprises a substantially linear rod 49 (FIG. 1) having a first plurality of substantially radially extending bristles 50 (FIG. 1) in planes substantially perpendicular to the rod in the area of the side teeth 5, 6, 7, and so on. The bristles of the first plurality of bristles 50 have substantially equal lengths (FIG. 1 A second plurality of substantially radially extending bristles 51 (FIG. 1) are provided in planes substantially perpendicular to the rod 49. The bristles of the second plurality of bristles 51 increase in length substantially in proportion with the distance from the first plurality of bristles 50 in a flared configuration.

A fourth of the brushes 52 (FIG. 3 and 8) is identical to the first brush 38 and abuts the inner surfaces of the other half of the front teeth of the jaw and the inner surfaces of the corresponding side teeth 8, 9, 10, and so on, as shown in FIG. 8. A fifth of the brushes 53 (FIGS. 3 and 8) is identical to the second and third brushes 39 and 40 and abuts the outer surfaces of the other half of the front teeth and the outer surfaces of the corresponding side teeth 8, 9, l0, and so on, as shown in FIG. 8. A sixth of the brushes 54 (FIGS. 3 and 8) is identical to the second, third and fifth brushes 39, 40 and 53 and abuts the bite surfaces of the other half of the front teeth and the bite surfaces of the corresponding side teeth 8, 9, l0, and so on.

The drive gear 29 rotates the gears 23 and 26 counterclockwise and clockwise, respectively, as shown in FIG. 2. The gear 24 is drivingly coupled to, and driven in a clockwise direction by, the gear 23, as shown in FIG. 2. The gear 27 is drivingly coupled to, and driven in a counterclockwise direction by, the gear 26, as shown in FIG. 2. The first and second brushes 38 and 39 are thus contrarotated, as are the fourth and fifth brushes 52 and 53, so that the teeth are brushed in a proper manner, outward from the root areas of the teeth or the gums, to the bite surfaces of the teeth or their crowns.

The gear 25 is drivingly coupled to, and driven in a clockwise direction by, the gear 23, as shown in FIG. 2. The gear 28 is drivingly coupled to, and driven in a counterclockwise direction by, the gear 26, as shown in FIG. 2.

The brushes 38, 39, 40, 52, 53 and 54 are preferably removably coupled to their corresponding gears 23, 24, 25, 26, 27 and 28, respectively, in any suitable manner such as, for example, by spring-biased clamps. The user of the toothbrush may thus use as many brushes as he wishes at any time, in any desired arrangement. The use may thus use only the brushes 38, 39, 52 and 53, for example, or only the brushes 52, 53 and 54, for example.

While the invention has been described by means of specific examples and in specific embodiments, I do not wish to be limited thereto, for obvious modifications 6 will occurto those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

I claim: h I

1. A rotary toothbrush for brushing all the teeth of a jaw, said teeth being in a substantially U-shapedpattern with front teeth at the curvilinear portion of the pattern and side teeth at the substantially linear portions of the pattern andeach tooth having aninner surface on the inside ofthe U-shaped pattern, an outer surface on the outsideof the U-shaped pattern and a bite surface facing the bite surfaces of the teeth of the other jaw, said toothbrush comprising I a housing; first, second, third, fourth, fifth and sixth substantially linearly extending brushes rotatably mounted at one end in the housing and positioned so that the first brush operatively abuts a corresponding one of the inner surfaces of substantially half the front teeth and the corresponding side teeth, the second brush operatively abuts the outer surfaces of substantially half the front teeth and the corresponding side teeth and the third brush operatively abuts the bite surfaces of substantially half the front teeth and the bite surfaces of the corresponding side teeth, the first brush comprising a substantially linear rod having a first plurality of substantially radially extending bristles in planes substantially perpendicular to the rod in the area of the side teeth, a second plurality of substantially radially extending bristles in planes inclined at angles opening away from the first plurality of bristles in the area of the inner surfaces of the front teeth and a third plurality of substantially radially extending bristles in planes inclined at angles opening toward the first and second pluralities of bristles in the area of the outer surfaces of the front teeth, the bristles of each of the second and third pluralities of bristles substantially abutting each other in a plane substantially perpendicular to the rod and the bristles of each of the second and third pluralities of bristles increasing in length substantially in proportion with the distance from said plane, the bristles of each of the second and third pluralities of bristles forming substantially conical configurations, the second brush comprising a substantially linear rod having a first plurality of substantially radially extending bristles in planes substantially perpendicular to the rod in the area of the side teeth, the bristles of the first plurality of bristles having substantially equal lengths, and a second plurality of substantially radially extending bristles in planes substantially perpendicular to the rod, the bristles of the second plurality of bristles increasing in length substantially in proportion with the distance from the first plurality of bristles in a flared configuration, and the third brush comprising a substantially linear rod having a first plurality of substantially radially extending bristles in planes substantially perpendicular to the rod in the area of the side teeth, the bristles of the first plurality of bristles having substantially equal lengths, and a second plurality of substantially radially extending bristles in planes substantially perpendicular to the rod, the bristles of the second plurality of bristles increasing in length substantially in proportion with the distance from the first plurality of bristles in a flared configuration, the fourth of the brushes being identical to the first brush and abutting the inner surfaces of 7 the other half of the front teeth of the jaw and the inner surfaces of the corresponding side teeth, the fifth of the brushes being identical to the second brush and abutting the outer surfaces of the other half of the front teeth and the outer surfaces of the corresponding side teeth and the sixth of the brushes being identical to the third brush and abutting the bite surfaces of the other half of the front teeth of the jaw and the bite surfaces of the corresponding side teeth; and motive means in the housing coupled to the brushes for rotating the brushes about their axes in predetermined directions.

for producing a tune simultaneously with the rotation of the brushes.

4. A rotary toothbrush as claimed in claim 1, wherein the motive means contrarotates the first and second brushes. 

1. A rotary toothbrush for brushing all the teeth of a jaw, said teeth being in a substantially U-shaped pattern with front teeth at the curvilinear portion of the pattern and side teeth at the substantially linear portions of the pattern and each tooth having an inner surface on the inside of the U-shaped pattern, an outer surface on the outside of the U-shaped pattern and a bite surface facing the bite surfaces of the teeth of the other jaw, said toothbrush comprising a housing; first, second, third, fourth, fifth and sixth substantially linearly extending brushes rotatably mounted at one end in the housing and positioned so that the first brush operatively abuts a corresponding one of the inner surfaces of substantially half the front teeth and the corresponding side teeth, the second brush operatively abuts the outer surfaces of substantially half the front teeth and the corresponding side teeth and the third brush operatively abuts the bite surfaces of substantially half the front teeth and the bite surfaces of the corresponding side teeth, the first brush comprising a substantially linear rod having a first plurality of substantially radially extending bristles in planes substantially perpendicular to the rod in the area of the side teeth, a second plurality of substantially radially extending bristles in planes inclined at angles opening away from the first plurality of bristles in the area of the inner surfaces of the front teeth and a third plurality of substantially radially extending bristles in planes inclined at angles openinG toward the first and second pluralities of bristles in the area of the outer surfaces of the front teeth, the bristles of each of the second and third pluralities of bristles substantially abutting each other in a plane substantially perpendicular to the rod and the bristles of each of the second and third pluralities of bristles increasing in length substantially in proportion with the distance from said plane, the bristles of each of the second and third pluralities of bristles forming substantially conical configurations, the second brush comprising a substantially linear rod having a first plurality of substantially radially extending bristles in planes substantially perpendicular to the rod in the area of the side teeth, the bristles of the first plurality of bristles having substantially equal lengths, and a second plurality of substantially radially extending bristles in planes substantially perpendicular to the rod, the bristles of the second plurality of bristles increasing in length substantially in proportion with the distance from the first plurality of bristles in a flared configuration, and the third brush comprising a substantially linear rod having a first plurality of substantially radially extending bristles in planes substantially perpendicular to the rod in the area of the side teeth, the bristles of the first plurality of bristles having substantially equal lengths, and a second plurality of substantially radially extending bristles in planes substantially perpendicular to the rod, the bristles of the second plurality of bristles increasing in length substantially in proportion with the distance from the first plurality of bristles in a flared configuration, the fourth of the brushes being identical to the first brush and abutting the inner surfaces of the other half of the front teeth of the jaw and the inner surfaces of the corresponding side teeth, the fifth of the brushes being identical to the second brush and abutting the outer surfaces of the other half of the front teeth and the outer surfaces of the corresponding side teeth and the sixth of the brushes being identical to the third brush and abutting the bite surfaces of the other half of the front teeth of the jaw and the bite surfaces of the corresponding side teeth; and motive means in the housing coupled to the brushes for rotating the brushes about their axes in predetermined directions.
 2. A rotary toothbrush as claimed in claim 1, wherein the motive means comprises an electric motor, a source of electrical energy coupled to the motor for rotating the motor and gear means coupling the motor to each of the brushes.
 3. A rotary toothbrush as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a music box coupled to the motive means for producing a tune simultaneously with the rotation of the brushes.
 4. A rotary toothbrush as claimed in claim 1, wherein the motive means contrarotates the first and second brushes. 